Trough-cover-lifting mechanism



M. ROSENKRANZ. TROUGH COVER LIFTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.I3, I921.

' Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

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APPLICATION FILED JAN.13,192I- Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

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TROUGH COVERLIFTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-13,1921- Patented Dec. 13,1921. 1

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M. ROSENKRANZ.

I TBOUGH COVER LIFTING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JAN. r3. 1-921.

7 SHEETSSHEET 4- g i mflesses 1910672502": Wat/iaaenfimWf M. ROSENKRANZ. THOUGH COVER LIFT ING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. I3, 1921.

Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

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APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13. 1921.

Patented D60- 13, 1921.

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.lilll llflllliillvllvvlfi 10?): for: /774 lime/M747 &1 M W MAX ROSENKRAN Z, OE PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL P ENT,

COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEVJ' J -TROUG-H-OOVERLIFTING MECHANISM.

Application filed January 13, 1921. Serial No. 436,954.

To all whom it may concern i.

Be it known that I, MAXv ROSENKRANZ,' a citizen of the United States, and resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of. Alleghenyand State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trough-Cover-Lifting Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pipe handling apparatus for pipe mills, and more particularly to the dumping troughs at the exit side of the pipe mill sizing rolls upon which the sized pipes or tubes are received endwise from the sizing rolls and by which the sized pipes or tubes are delivered sidewise into position to be transferred sidewise to the coolmg bed located alongside the dumping trough, and upon which the sized pipes or tubes are stored while being cooled from the high temperature at which the sized pipes are delivered upon the dumping trough.

One object of my invention is the pro vision of pipe handling apparatus havingnovel means whereby the travel of the pipes or tubes to the sizing rolls, and from the sizing rolls to the cooling table forming part of my improved pipe handling apparatus automatically regulated and controlled.

Another obj ectof my invention is the provision of pipe handling apparatus having novel means whereby the entry of the successive pipes and tubes delivered into the sizing rolls is automatically regulated and controlled by the delivery of the sizedpipes or tubes to the cooling table on the discharge side of such sizing rolls. 7

Another object of the invention is to pro vide pipe handling apparatus having novel means whereby the entry of thepipes or tubes into the sizingrolls is automatically prevented until the last. pipe or tube'to.

emerge from the sizing rolls is delivered sidewise to the cooling table upon which the sized materials are discharged by the dump r elevations of the electric switchlocated on ing troughs located on the discharge side of the sizing rolls.

Heretofore means have not been provided for regulating the travel of the pipes and cooling trough. As the pipes pass one after the other, in rapid succession,; through the sizing rolls and to the receiving, trough, when for any reason a pipe becomes stuck,

or its travel lengthwise isotherwise inter-.

rupted a second or possibly more pipes will run through the rolls and. 1' am in the receiving trough before the apparatus can be stopped. Such accidents and delays are costly. since they necessitate the scrapping of the cobbled pipes and; also interrupt the operation of the pipe mill until the cobblet pipes are removed.

7 1 The lifting covers heretofore used have been actuated by 'fitllCl pressure cylinders ratusrfrequently opened or closed the cover at the wrong time and thus pinchedthe hot pipe, causing a jam.

The above described difficulties are avoid- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 13, 1921.7

However the'workman operating the. appaed and overcome by the use of my improved automatic cover lifting and controlling apparatus when constructed and arran'ged as described in detail 1111 the following specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which v Figure 1 1s a partlal top plan of a cooling bed and dumping trough having my invena my. invention applied thereto; 1

Fig. dis a detail sectional end elevation of a portion of the apparatus showing. the

arrangement of the electrical control apparatus on the exit side of the sizing rolls; 3

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation showing the dumping trough lever operating mechanism.

Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged detail, sectlonal the incoming side of the sizingrolls. 7

Figs. 8 and 9 are enlargedv detail sectional elevations of the electrical switch located on the exit side of the sizing rolls.

Fig 10 is a diagrammatic view showing the open circuit when no pipe is passing through the sizing rolls. 7 1

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic viewshowing the closed circuit to lift the dumping trough cover when a pipe has passed beyond the incoming trough and is yet in the sizing rolls.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views thereof, a pipe dumping trough 2 is supported upon a plurality of vertically adjustable stands 3 positioned at one side of the pipe cooling table 4, and in line with the pass of the sizing rolls 5. The sizing rolls are operatively mounted in the windows of the roll housings 6 andthe dumping table 4 is provided with conveyer members 7 and may be of any known construction of which there are several.

The space between'the trough 2 and side of the cooling table 4 is bridged by a series of skids 8 as is the usual practice.

The trough 2 is provided with a cover 9 which is connected to the trough along one, (the rear) edge, by a series of hinge members 10.

The sizing rolls 5 are provided with entering guides 11 and discharge guides 12, and a. delivering trough 13 leads to the rolls and terminates at the rolls in the guide box 14 of the sizing rolls on the entrance side.

The structure above described is of old construction well'known to the art, and not forming part of the-present invention, will not be further described in detail, being illustrated and described to make clear the combinc tion and cooperation with a cooling table of the improvements forming my invention.

A. bracket 15, secured to the entering side of the roll housings 6, extends past each end thereof. The end of the bracket farthest from the sizing rolls 5 carries an electric switch member 16, normally held in closed position, and having an operating rod or shaft 17 extending along the bracket 15 and mounted in bearings 18. A depending impact lever or trigger 19, mounted on the free end of the rod or shaft 17, extends downwardly into the path of travel of pipes passing through the entering guide box 14. A pipe passing through the guide box 14 will strike the lever or trigger 19, and rock the rod or shaft 17, and thereby break the circuit through the switch 16.

A second bracket 20 which is mounted on the top face of the roll housings 6 along the entering side of the rolls has a solenoid 21 mounted on the end thereof away from the s1z1 ng rolls. A lever 22 is pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends on a bearing 23 on the bracket 20 and is adapted to beactuated by the solenoid 21. One end of the lever 22 is slotted as at 24, and has a gate or shutter arm 25 pivotally mounted in said slot. The gate or shutter arm 25 terminates at lower end in' a gate or shutter 26 mounted between the vertical guides 26 suse pended rigidly from the bracket 15. The gate or shutter 26 when in its lowermost position, is adapted to interrupt or close the path of travel of the pipe by closing the discharge end of the entering guide box.

A third bracket 27 is secured to the discharge side of the roll housings 6 and extends beyond each end thereof. The end of the bracket farthest from the sizing rolls 5 carries an electric switch member 28 normally held in open position, and having an operating rod or shaft 29 extending along the bracket 27 and mounted in bearings 30. An impact lever or trigger 31 is mounted on the free end of the rod or shaft 29 and hangs down into the path of travel of the pipe as it passes through the discharge guides 12 and before it reaches the dump trough 2. -As the pipe passes through the guides 12 and before it reaches the dump trough 2 itwill strike the lever or trigger 31, rock the rod or shaft 29 and close the switch 28. o

The trough cover 9 is adapted to be raised or lowered by means of an operating lever 32, this lever having a link 33 extending downwardly therefrom into a pit 34 to the rear of the table, and having a counterweight 35 secured to the lower end thereof which when in its lowermost position is arranged to strike a cushioning spring 35*.

A supporting plate 36 is mounted over the pit 34 and is provided with a standard or bracket 37 on its upper face and a bearing member 38 on its bottom face. A solenoid 39 is mounted on the standard or bracket 37 and has a plunger 40 extending through an aperture in said supporting plate 36.

The plunger 40 has its lower end pivotally secured to the one end of a lever 41 which is pivoted intermediate its ends on the bearing 38 and has its other end pivotally secured on the link 33 of lever 32.

The circuit operating to energize both of thesolenoids 21 and 39 passes through both of the switches 16 and 28 and since the switch 16 is opened by the action of the traveling pipe striking the trigger 19 and automatically closes when the pipe passes beyond the trigger, and since the switch 28 is closed by the pipe striking the trigger 31 and remains closed only while the pipe is passing thereunder, it will be apparent that the solenoids 21 and 39 will only be energized after the pipe passes from under the trigger 19 and while it is still under trigger 31, at which time both switches will be closed. The foregoing circuits will be hereinafter more fully explained with reference to the diagrammatic circuit of Figs. 10

and 11.

The switches 16 and 28 on the roll housing are shown in detail in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 d comprise-a casing 43 secured to a frame structure formed of angles 44. The operating shafts 17 and 29, respectively, of these switches, pass through the casing and are journaled in fiber bearing blocks secured to the inside of the back plate of the casing.

A fiber lever 46, pivotally mounted on the shaft 17 of the switch 16 has a centrally arranged slot 47 therein. The lever 46 is adapted to normally restor be supported on the vertically adjustable supporting arm or post 48- A fiber contact support 49 is securedto the front wall of the switch casing and has a metallic contact plate 50 securedon its upper face which is electrically connected to a binding post 51 by the coiled conductor 52.

A fiber Contact finger 53 is pivotally mounted in, the slot 47 of lever 46 and has a metallic contact portion 54 arranged to make the circuit by engaging with themember 50., The finger 53 is normally held in. engagement with the contact plate. 50 by a coil spring 55 having its one end secured thereto and the other secured to an adjustable anchor member 56 which is mounted on the bottom of the casing 43. The, contact portion 54 is electrically connected to a binding post 57 by a coiled conductor 58.

The lever 19, when struck by a pipe passing through the entering guide box 14, will rock the shaft 17, thus forcing upthe lever 46 until in engagement with the finger 53, which breaks the contact between the contacts 50 and 54, and as soon as the pipe passes from under the lever 19, this lever will drop, causing a reverse rocking movement of the shaft 17 and the return of the lever 46 and finger 53 so as to again make the circuit. The return movement of the lever is accelerated by the spring 55 which also serves to hold the finger-53 and its con-' tact 54 in positive engagement with the contact 50 during any vibratory motion of the lever 46 which can move a considerable distance without lifting the finger 53. This last feature is important since the lever 19 will normally swing back and forth for an instant after it is released by the pipe and would cause considerable sparking if the finger 53 swung with the lever 19.

A U-shaped fiber lever 59 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 29 of the switch 28, and has a metallic contact member 60 which extends across its open end and is electrically connected to a binding. post 61 by a coiled conductor 62.

A fiber contact finger 63 is pivotally mounted between the arms'of the lever 59, and has a metallic contact 64, which is adapted to make the circuit by engaging with the contact portion 60 on the lever 59. The lever 59 is adapted to normally rest on the bracket 65 onthe post 66 and the finger 63 to rest on the top face of said post,- thus normally holding the contact portions 64 and 60 apart.

The contact portion 64 is electrically connected'to a binding post 67 by a conductor 68. Agcoil spring'69hasits one end connected to the finger 63 and its other endsecured to an adjustable anchor member 79 mounted on the bottom of the casing 43.

When the lever 31 isl struck; by the pipe as the pipe passes through the guides 12 and before it reaches the dump, trough 2 the shaft 29 rocks and raises the lever 59 until it engages the finger 63, when thecir- 1 cuit will be made. The tension of the spring so 69 is against thelift of the finger 63-,and, therefore, will cause a positive contact.

The diagrammatic showingyof Figs. 10

and 11 will clearly illustrate the circuit-controlled by the switches 16 and 28 as they are operated by the .pipeduring its travel. 7

The switches 16 and 28 are both connected in a single circuit which controls bo th'of the solenoids21 and 39. Current enters the lead wire'75 from; a suitable source such as the dynamo 76, and passes to the solenoid 21 thence through the wire 77 to the switch '16, thence through wire ,78 tothe switch 28, thence through the. wire 79 to the solenoid 39, thence tov thereturn wire 80, which completes the circuit to the point of starting. l V I Before a pipepasses through the sizing rolls, the switch 16 is in closed position and the switch 28 in open position. -Therefore the circuit, to the solenoids21 and 39 isinot completed. The pipe asit passesthrough the guide box 14, strikes the lever .19 of the switch 16, breakingthe circuit through said switch, and since the switch 28' is open the opening of switch 16 has no effect. After the pipe progresses throughthe sizing rolls and before it enters the dumptrough 2 its forward end strikes the lever 31;.of switch 28, closing the circuitthroug-h said switch, but since the switch 16 is open the circuitis still incomplete. The pipe continues its travel and its rear end finally passes from under the lever 19 allowing the switch 16 to automatically close,'and in this way com- 115.

pleting the circuit to the solenoids 21 and 39. since switch 28 on theexit side of the sizing rolls is held closed by the pipe'passing thereunder.

Energizing the solenoid 21 causes the piv-v 'oted lever 22 to move the gate or shutter 26 pipe through the guide box 14 into the sizing rolls and cause the same cycle of'operations to be repeated.

The advantages of my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since it entirely eliminates the possibility of successive pipes becoming jammed in the dump trough, and provides a positive lifting mechanism for automatically operating the lifting cover of the dump trough.

While I have shown and described specific forms of switches and other operating mechanism, it will be expressly understood that I do not wish to be limited to such forms, since various changes in design and combination of parts of the various elements may be readily made by those skilled in the art,

without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims. I claim: 1. In a pipe mill, the combination with the sizing rolls and a pipe cooling table having a dumping trough and a tilting cover for said trough, of an electrically operated shutter for closing the pathway of the pipes into said rolls, an electrically operated lever mechanism for raising and lowering said trough cover, and means operated by engagement of the pipe in the passage thereof through said rolls and under said trough cover for making and breaking a circuit to said electrically operated shutter and lever mechanism.

2. In a pipe mill, the combination with the sizing rolls and cooling table thereof, said cooling table having a dumping trough and a tilting cover for said trough, of an electrically operated shutter for closing the pathway of the pipes to said rolls, an electrically operated lever mechanism for raising and lowering said trough cover, and

switch members having operating triggers extending into the path of lengthwise travel of the pipes, said triggers being adapted to be engaged and actuated by the pipes in making and breaking a circuit to said electrically operated shutter and lever mechanism.

the sizing rolls and cooling table thereof,

3. In a pipe mill, the combination with said cooling table having a dumping trough and a tilting cover for said trough, of a shutter for closing the pathway of the pipes to said rolls, a lever mechanism for raising and lowering said trough cover, a solenoid for actuating said lever mechanism, "a second solenoid for actuating said shutter, an elec-, tric supply circuit leading to said solenoids, and means for automatically making and breaking said circuit, said means including switch members adapted to be actuated by the pipe in the passage thereof into and through said rolls into dumping position in under said cover.

4. In a pipe mill, the combination with the sizing rolls and cooling table of said mill, said cooling table having a dumping trough and a hinged cover for said trough,

of means for automatically closing the path Way of the pipes to said rolls, and means for automatically raising and lowering said cover. I

5. In a pipe mill, the combination with the, sizing rolls and cooling table of said mill, said cooling table having a dumping trough and a hinged cover forsaid trough, of electric means actuated by said pipe for automatically closing the pathway of the pipes to said rolls, and electric means actuated by said pipe for automatically raising and lowering said cover.

6. In a pipe mill, the combination with the sizing rolls and cooling table of said mill, said cooling table having a dumping trough, a hinged cover for said trough and means for closing the pathway to said rolls,

of electrically operated means for controlling the movement of said pathway closing means and said dumping cover, said controlling means being arranged to close said pathway when said dumping cover is lifted.

7'. In a pipe mill, the combination with the sizing rolls and cooling table of said mill, said cooling table having a dumping trough, a hinged cover for said trough and means for closing the pathway to said rolls, of electrically operated means for controlling the movement of said pathway closing means and said dumping cover, said controlling means being arranged to close said pathway when said dumping cover is lifted, and to hold said pathway closed until the pipe is released by said dumping cover.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

MAX ROSENKRANZ. 

